Might it actually detract from a downhiller’s riding experience though? That is the argument that DT Swiss makes, and there is absolutely logic to it. High engagement is cherished by people who love techy, challenging climbs, and is generally seen as a hallmark of performance.ĭT Swiss upgraded 54t rings on top, and their base-level 18t rings on bottom. That is obviously not as much as the Industry Nine Hydra’s 690 points or Onyx’s instantaneous engagement. The 2021 DT 350 comes stock with 36t ratchets, while the previous gen had 18t. People are quick to point out that this design has a maximum of 54 points of engagement, and that’s only if you upgrade it with a new set of rings. In fact, the original US patent for this design was filed in 1995, 26 years ago, and has been licensed to massive OEM brands like Roval from Specialized and Bontrager from Trek. It’s a design that doesn’t have any tiny parts to lose or break, isn’t affected by a little dirt and grime, and has withstood the test of time. The outer splines keep the rings from spinning in their housing, while allowing them to move towards and away from each other, and the ramped teeth push the rings apart in one direction while locking in the other. It’s simply two metal rings with splines on the outside and ramped teeth on the inside, which are pushed together by a large spring on each side. The ratchet design common to DT hubs, the thing that makes them so special, can be seen in the photo above. Two large springs sit on the outside of the toothed rings. The stunningly simple DT Swiss Ratchet system. Today, we’ll take a look at the Ratchet mechanism that makes the 350 such an amazing hub, as well as the newer Ratchet EXP design that the ultra-lightweight 240 hub runs, and we’ll examine what changed between the new and old versions of these hubs. Even so, this is a piece that has stood the test of time as one of mountain biking’s most easy-to-own hub designs, and has now been further refined into a component worthy of the dreamiest build you could put together. The specs of DT 350, on the other hand, have never been much to write home about, nor do its looks or sounds conjure images of the gorgeous custom builds Fanatik is known for. If you’ve seen our videos on the Industry Nine Hydra hub and Onyx’s hubs, you know how wildly cool those designs are, and the incredible advantages that precisely machined pawls and sprag clutches can bring. Of all the different designs out there, the DT Swiss 350 blew me away with its genius simplicity.ĭT Swiss's new 350 MTB hub, on top, with the long-standing previous generation on bottom. When I started working at a shop as a young teen, I finally had the tools I needed to dive into the inner workings of bike hubs. In particular, the clicking that bikes make while freewheeling always drew my interest, but I could never figure out how to get inside the hub to find out where this noise was coming from. I’d often take components apart, and much to the chagrin of my parents, be unable to put them back together. Happy trials.I grew up thinking bikes were engineering magic. I’ve demo-ed a couple of bikes with Hydra and the noise is noticeably softer, but it’s still there.Īnyway, thanks for the feedback. It’s got so many POEs that sometimes people assume I must be bearing down on them even though I’m moving very gently. The loud buzz doesn’t so much as “warn” hikers as it “startles” them. Currently I’m running I9 Torch and, boy, is it loud. I too really like the IDEA of a silent hub. I’ll try that rather than building a set of something like the nox kitsuma’s which would be approx $1800. It’s $1400 to upgrade to hydra laced with their house branded carbon S35 rims. I’ve decided to go with hydra, mainly bc I can get a good deal on an upgrade from ibis to go on a new Ripmo v2. If you do go that route, I'd plan on replacing the bearings before you ever ride on them. A good number of reports of hub shells cracking. Personally, I like the IDEA, but if you're after long term durability (particularl as, I assume, a stronger individual), perhaps not the best plan. LeDuke wrote:There are a good number of posts on MTBR about them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |